Andre Luiten is joint winner of the 2026 Clunies Ross Technology Innovation Award for his work on timing technology.
Adelaide University’s Professor Andre Luiten has been named joint winner of the 2026 Clunies Ross Technology Innovation Award for transforming world-leading Australian physics research in precision timing into technologies that are strengthening Australia’s defence, positioning, communications and space capabilities.
The Chair of Experimental Physics and Chief Executive Officer of QuantX Labs was presented with the award by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) at a gala dinner in Sydney on Wednesday night.
“I’m incredibly proud that work which began in the laboratory has grown into technologies now supporting critical applications around the world,” said Professor Luiten.
“This award recognises not just that pursuit, but the many researchers, engineers, partners and colleagues who helped transform world-leading Australian research into technologies with global impact.”
Australian-made global success
Professor Luiten joined the former University of Adelaide in 2013 through a Premier’s Research Fellowship and has since led research into highly precise measurement and timing technologies.
His Precision Measurement Group in the Institute for Photonics, Advancing Sensing and Quantum Technologies (IPAS QT) worked closely with Defence prior to the Phase 6 upgrade of the Jindalee Operational Radar Network.
His pioneering cryogenic sapphire oscillator technology, known as CRYO, delivers signal purity, improved timing and frequency stability up to 1,000 times greater than conventional systems.
Recognising the commercial opportunity created through engagement with Defence and BAE Systems, Professor Luiten established Cryoclock in 2016, later becoming QuantX Labs, to transition the technology from the research environment into operational deployment.
QuantX Labs has grown into a globally recognised Australian deep-technology company, employing more than 50 staff and exporting advanced precision timing technologies around the world.
Alongside this, Professor Luiten continues to lead a research group of 21 members at Adelaide University.
“For most of my career, I’ve been driven by a simple question: how precisely can we measure time?” said Professor Luiten.
“Every improvement in timing precision unlocks new possibilities, from advancing fundamental science to strengthening communications, navigation, defence and space capabilities.”
Addressing GNSS vulnerabilities
The commercial success of CRYO has enabled QuantX Labs to invest in next-generation technologies, including its TEMPO range of compact atomic clocks, which draw on research conducted by Professor Luiten’s team at Adelaide University.
TEMPO is designed to provide highly precise and reliable timing for critical infrastructure, communications, defence and space systems, maintaining precise timing capability even when GNSS signals are unavailable, disrupted or unreliable.
As dependence on GNSS continues to grow globally, technologies such as QuantX TEMPO help reduce vulnerabilities associated with jamming, spoofing and outages while building sovereign Australian capability.
Earlier this year, QuantX successfully launched its first timing technology into space aboard a SpaceX mission, marking a significant milestone towards sovereign Australian space-based timing capability.
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